Final choices for Cook County courts

Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune

A plaque commemorates the renaming of Cook County Criminal Court Building at 26th Street and California Avenue in Chicago to the Honorable George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building on Friday, June 29, 2012.

A plaque commemorates the renaming of Cook County Criminal Court Building at 26th Street and California Avenue in Chicago to the Honorable George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building on Friday, June 29, 2012. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

The Tribune Editorial Board concludes endorsements for Cook County subcircuit judicial races. All of these are Democratic primaries unless noted.

5th subcircuit, Washington II vacancy: This is an easy choice. Judge Robert Harris was Cook County’s public guardian from 2004 until his appointment to the bench in September. Bar associations gave thumbs down to both of his opponents, Shay Tyrone Allen and Mary Alice Melchor. Harris is endorsed.

6th subcircuit, Chevere vacancy: Major bar associations awarded their highest ratings to Judge Kent Delgado, who was appointed in 2017 and is assigned to probate court. The groups had concerns about David C. Herrera’s temperament and said Sean Patrick Kelly needs more experience. Delgado is strongly endorsed.

6th subcircuit, Cooke vacancy: The three candidates in this race all are qualified for the bench. Edward J. Underhill is a private attorney focusing on business and commercial litigation. Andrea Michelle Webber is an assistant public defender assigned to the Homicide Task Force. Judge Charles “Charlie” Beach, appointed to the vacancy last year, has impressed his fellow judges and the lawyers who appear in his courtroom. Beach is endorsed.

6th subcircuit, Lopez Cepero vacancy: In a little over a year on the bench, Judge Stephanie K. Miller has moved from traffic court to misdemeanors to bond court. Her varied career as an assistant state’s attorney — handling felonies, sex crimes and juvenile cases — prepared her to handle many roles. Her opponent, Linda Perez, also is well equipped. As an assistant public defender, she’s handled felonies, misdemeanors, juvenile crimes and child protection cases. In a close call, Miller is endorsed.

8th subcircuit, Fabri vacancy: We endorsed Judge Robin Denise Shoffner with reservations in 2016. She lost that race and was appointed to fill this vacancy. The CBA says she “is working to address concerns about her legal knowledge and temperament.” A better choice is James “Jamie” Shapiro, who was a circuit judge from 2007 to 2012 and now has a private practice that focuses mainly on state and federal criminal defense. Also on the ballot are Stephen J. Feldman and John Christopher Benson, both private practitioners, and Bonnie C. McGrath, who skipped the evaluations. Shapiro is endorsed.

8th subcircuit, Liu vacancy: Judge Michael A. Forti was appointed to the bench in 2016 and works in the Domestic Relations Division. He has been a private litigator, a supervisor in the Chicago Law Department and chief counsel for the Illinois Department of Transportation. The Council of Lawyers says he manages a high volume courtroom and is praised for his handling of pro se litigants – people who appear before him without attorneys. Also on the ballot are Athena A. Farmakis, a Luvabull-turned-lawyer who is a stellar assistant state’s attorney; Lindsay Huge, a career public defender currently handling appeals; and Cyrus Hosseini, who didn’t participate in evaluations. Forti is endorsed.

8th subcircuit, Pethers vacancy: This is another strong field. A former assistant Illinois attorney general, Judge Myron “Mike” Mackoff, quickly impressed fellow judges after his appointment in 2016. Jeanne Marie Wrenn is a former prosecutor who served as legislative liaison to the Illinois General Assembly; she also was ethics officer for the Pace bus system and general counsel to the National Safety Council. Rishi Agrawal is a private attorney specializing in commercial, criminal and family law. Mackoff is endorsed.

10th subcircuit, O’Neill Burke vacancy: Colleagues and court observers say Judge Stephanie Saltouros is doing a fine job in municipal court. Before she was appointed to a vacant seat in 2016, she was a criminal defense attorney, and before that a prosecutor. Gwynn E. Ward Brown is a career assistant public defender, now handling post-conviction and appellate matters. Lorraine Murphy is a first chair felony prosecutor. Voters can’t go wrong. But Saltouros is endorsed.

10th subcircuit, Suriano vacancy: Judge Gerald Cleary was not elected in 2012, when we first endorsed him, but was appointed to a vacancy in 2015 and is assigned to the challenging Chancery Division. He earns our endorsement again. Colleen Reardon Daly is impressive, as in 2016. Jill Rose Quinn and Thomas J. Gabryszewski get mixed reviews from bar associations. Noreen Patricia Connolly did not participate in evaluations. Cleary is endorsed.

11th subcircuit, Kennedy vacancy: Judge Joanne F. Rosado was a rock star assistant public defender, sitting first chair in murder cases and assigned to the Multiple Defendants Unit. She also handled child protection cases. She was appointed to this vacancy in 2017. Scott Jay Frankel is a former public defender now in private practice. He handles civil and criminal cases in state and federal courts and gets high praise for his legal skills. He too would be a fine judge. Our endorsement goes to Rosado.

12th subcircuit, Maki vacancy: This subcircuit has primaries for both parties. For Democrats, our pick is Joel Chupack. The CBA rated him “highly qualified,” noting his “knowledge of the law, legal scholarship, legal ability and excellent temperament.” His private practice focuses on real estate law and he has worked extensively as an arbitrator. Also on the ballot are Carmine Trombetta and Thomas Raymond Molitor.

For the Republicans, David Studenroth, a former prosecutor now doing private criminal defense, is endorsed over Alan M. Jacob, who did not participate in bar association evaluations.

13th subcircuit, Crane vacancy (Republican): There are two good choices in this race. Gary William Seyring is an attorney and certified public accountant who has been in private practice for nearly four decades. He focuses on family, business and real estate law and estate and tax planning. He is endorsed over Susanne Groebner, a veteran prosecutor praised by the CBA for her “outstanding” trial skills.

13th subcircuit, Lawrence vacancy (Republican): Judge Michael Perry Gerber’s legal journey — three years as a public defender, nearly 33 as a prosecutor — was capped by his appointment to the bench in 2016 at age 71. Daniel Patrick Fitzgerald is also impressive. He is senior counsel for Walgreens and has been an assistant attorney general and general counsel to several state agencies. Gerber is endorsed.

14th subcircuit, Garcia vacancy: Bar associations say Beatriz A. Frausto-Sandoval’s private practice — focusing mostly on immigration law — has not prepared her for the circuit court bench. Judge Marina E. Ammendola brings broad experience as a civil litigator and has served as a guardian ad litem; she was appointed to the bench in 2017. Ammendola is endorsed.

15th subcircuit, Zelezinski vacancy: Judge Anthony C. Swanagan worked in private practice and as a corporate in-house counsel and spent 15 years as a law clerk for appellate and federal court judges. He was appointed to the bench last year. He’s endorsed over Scott McKenna, a private attorney with extensive experience in civil litigation.

As the March 20 primary approaches, you’ll find candidates’ responses to Tribune Editorial Board questionnaires, and all of our endorsements, at chicagotribune.com/candidates.